Several threads have come up lately with absolutely gorgeous US ARMY Model of the 1917's. I'm as broke as it gets, but I gotta have one (in the future). I would love to see pics. and any data that can be offered on them from manufacture dates to amount manufactured and variations. Someone posted pics of theirs with a period correct holster, lanyard, belt and ammo pouches and the like. Pics. with accessories, targets, or game taken with the 1917 would really interest me. I've seen these revolvers before, but they have never spoken to me. I'm a US Army veteran, so one of these seems fitting. I have a soft spot for the .45 acp anyway. I've seen a few Colts, but they don't do it for me. When I get the cash for one, what should I look for in terms of serial number or variation? I want a shooter, but a VERY clean one. What should I expect to pay? Any opinions on half or full-moon clips and mooning(?),de-mooning tools? Thanks in advance for any info given. I leave it to the envied ones............

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Sprefix,
We must have a lot of the poor souls working today since no one has chimed in yet. I only have dad's old mark II that has been converted to 45AR/ACP. I to am on the lookout for a 1917 so I will tell you what little I am familiar with. I think there are three varients of them. The 1917s will have the model and s/n on the bottom of the grip frame seperated by the lanyard ring. United States property under the barrel and an ordinance bomb somewhere with smooth grips. S&W continued making the 1917 in a civilian version for a number of years, same as the military minus the military stampings. I think it was '37 when S&W made a batch for the Brizilian military and they are identified by the Brizilian crest on the side plate
As far as full moon vers half moons I like the halves better. They are easier to finger load and unload. Full moons seem a lot tighter although once you have reloaded the brass a few times ( if you reload) either one gets easy. Hope this helps a little and good hunting.
Larry

there have been several threads on the 1917 just in the past 6 months. i like to call the 1917 the sport utility of the revolver world. it's prefect, open sights no fancy dodads. i have several and am always looking for more, really like the early one's with the concave grips and grooved hammer. also there a wonderful piece of american military history.


this is a commercial model.

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George Jamison

Can't say I've seen the Brazilian crest before. Are they in demand more or less than a non-Brazilian? "Grooved Hammer"? Like milled ridges along the sides of the hammer? I've seen the term but am drawing a blank if this isn't it. Five hours sleep in three days and an infected tooth got me feeling pretty foggy. Thanks for the moon clips info. Both sets of grips have their allures for me. I like the large knob on the ejector rod and the way it is fit into the bottom of the barrel. Durn it to high Heaven..........Wish I had some expendable cash and a line on one of these magnificent revolvers!!!

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Go big or stay home

HO-LEE!!!! Now that is what I'm talking about 2170!! What is the "Eight ball" doo-hikky laying there? A belt buckle? Looks like spurs are on the boots also. I like your avatar. Where did it come from? I've never seen it before?

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Go big or stay home

Anyone use their model 1917 Army on a trapline or for small game hunting?

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Go big or stay home

Here's one of mine.

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James Redfield
LM #497

The first revolver I ever had was a US marked 1917 I purchased at the Glendale, Ca, gun show for $25 when I was 16 years old (in 1963). Without a doubt it was, and remains to this day, the most enjoyable revolver I have ever owned. It's all business, speaks with authority, and will stop or drop just about anything you'd ever be likely to want to shoot with a hand gun.

I'm currently shopping for a 1917 Commercial, and expect to pay something north of $800 for a good shooter grade pistol.

Here is a Brazilian I stumbled across. I was looking for a WWI Model of 1917 and thought that's what this was (it was displayed "Crest Side Down").

But the price was right and eventually a deal was struck, so here it is. It did not have the "rode hard and put away wet" looks of many Brazilians. Turns out it shipped in 1946, not 1937, so avoided service in WWII.

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You're shy a few manners.

Reading fast, I thought this said "Anyone use their Model 1917 on a Trampoline..."

This one left S&W in Feb of 1918, and was shipped to the Springfield Armory...

Here's my one and only 1917 Brazilian.....and it was definitely "rode hard and put up wet"! I traded a Taurus for it and haven't looked back.
This one shipped June 1937. It's a mix of 1917 parts and has "United States Property" under the barrel. Shot it this past week and it works just fine. Someone put some nice walnut repro stocks on it and I find I have to readjust my grip after each shot.

Is it the light, or is the barrel bulged on that revolver. I have one that definitely is. Repost from another 1917 thread:

I gave almost nothing for this one a couple of years ago. The cylinder has been bored to accept .45 Colt. The barrel is bulged. US Army has been ground off the butt. It has been through the wringer. Shipped Aug 1918. It still has a very nice action and shoots better than I do. I'm not afraid of carrying it in a holster when I ride a horse or throwing it in the back seat of my truck. I probably wouldn't take $1000 for it.

,

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Pat Henson

No bulge, at least that I can detect. Looks clean as a whistle and straight inside the barrel. Outside.....well that's another story.

Here's mine..

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Linda
SWCA #1965, SWHF #245

This one was VERY inexpensive a few years ago ! Great shooter with .45AutoRim.

Jerry

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.38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator

The grips arent right on this one. Otherwise it`s a straight 1917. I have owned 3 of them at various times. One I had a 455 clyinder reamed to 45 colt makeing it a true convertable fireing .45 acp and 45 colt, other customizing done, another crane, adjustable s&w sights put on it etc. Had another that was unfired with a colt 1917 also unfired.
What was I thinking? think both still had the heavy grease or cosmilene on them! This one I gave my dad about 40 years ago and got it back when he went to the rest home. He didnt want to give it up and had always kept it loaded under his mattress.

I was just looking and "Dreaming" on GB and found a 1917 out of Red Oak TX for $1800.00!!!! Look at it if you don't mind and tell me your thoughts. I think it is a bit steep, but it is VERY nice. I want one to use, but nice as possible as I maintain my guns very well. If I had this gun, I would shoot it. One of you guys could just "loan" me yours and I'd quit looking around and spending money I don't have. What...? I sense laughter............

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Go big or stay home

Well, sounds like you traded one Brazilian for another!

I wouldn't look back either. The guy may be looking for you after he figured out how bad he "got tooken".

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You're shy a few manners.

... and this was one was not inexpensive when I bought it several months ago. But I wanted a really nice 1917, and this was the best one I could see anywhere at the time I was looking.

Low serial number (under 25000), so it has all the early features: radially grooved hammer, concave stock tops, GHS cartouche. I haven't rechecked, but I seem to recall it shipped in January 1918.







I haven't shot this one, though I have no policy that prevents me from doing so. I did acquire a much rougher and much cheaper Brazilian a little later that turned out to have even more challenges than I had expected based on the auction description; I put some work (and a couple of new parts) into it and ended up with a very nice .45 shooter. The Brazilian is in an easy-access location now; it's one of my go-to guns in the event of an unlikely home invasion.

To the OP's original questions, I think you'd have to commit to spending over a grand for a decent specimen and well over that for one in high condition. The ones with early features are a little more in demand and often command higher prices. An almost new Army 1917 (and improbable as it may seem, they do exist) will push two grand. The commercial 1917s are priced higher because they are scarcer. The 1937 and 1946 Brazilian contract guns are often less expensive because they are usually (but not always) kind of beat up when you find them. The 1937 guns mostly have flat-top frames and square-notch rear sight channels, but the 1946 guns, which were made up from early-'20s parts that the company reacquired from the government, have rounded-top frames with a round-notch sight channel. And there are a very few postwar new-production non-export 1917s, some of which have S-prefix serial numbers. For some reason I suspect one of these might appeal to you if you could come across it at a decent price.

The serial numbers can be really mixed up on these guns, so it may take some thought to figure out exactly what you have when you are looking at a candidate for acquisition. You can research shipment dates for the 1917-1918 military production in military materiel books or on web sites.

Some people like population stats, so I'll mention that over 200,000 of these were made. That exceeds the total production of all other long-action N-frames, which basically means guns produced before 1950. There are about 75,000 total units in the .455 Hand Ejector series (First and Second models combined) that the company produced mostly for the British and their allies in WWI. So commercial production of N-frames and .455 HE production are approximately equal. Total long-action N-frame production comes to around 350,000 over 42 years (1908, when the .44 New Century was introduced, up to 1950, when the short-action N-frames were introduced).

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David Wilson

Cocked & Locked should show up soon with a photo of a REALLY nice 1917, if you haven't hurt his feelings with your negativity about C***. Of course, his gun could use a Tyler, but so could the Smiths.

fabrica de itajuba rv45 m917 mine has a four digit S serial number?
The 1937 guns mostly have flat-top frames and square-notch rear sight channels, but the 1946 guns, which were made up from early-'20s parts that the company reacquired from the government, have rounded-top frames with a round-notch sight channel. And there are a very few postwar new-production non-export 1917s, some of which have S-prefix serial numbers. For some reason I suspect one of these might appeal to you if you could come across it at a decent price.

any info or direction to document would be appreaciated. [email protected]

56LW, I replied over on the other thread, too; saw that one before I found this post. The postwar serial numbers with an S prefix would have six digits following. Are there any markings on the butt of the gun? Look at the last photo in the post that is a couple of posts up from this one: it should say US Army Model 1917 on one side of the lanyard loop and have a serial number in two lines on the other side. If S+4 digit number you mentioned is on the frame where you can see it when the cylinder is swung out, that's just an internal process control number and can't tell us anything. If the butt markings have been ground off, which sometimes happens, look for a number on the rear surface of the cylinder. It will be small, and located between two charge holes at the outer circumference.

Not to scare you, but if the serial number has been ground off the frame, the gun is illegal unless the number was transferred to another part of the frame, usually on the left side under the left grip panel.

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David Wilson

here's my contribution







and one of the "other" brands

These S&W models 1917 were wonderful guns from a highly interesting era in world history. I have an excellent example of the counterpoint - a really nice all matching (except mag) 1914 DWM Artillery Luger with a 2 digit serial number without prefix. Accompanied by matching numbered shoulder stock and holster!

Sorry! Back to the point. Here are my Models 1917. A refinished WWI era model, SN 89,2xx with updated grips. This was strictly a ‘pretty face’ purchase at the right price factoring in the non-originality.
Next is a Brazilian contract, SN 168,0xx in fairly decent condition. I went through wooden box of these contained loosely in a pile and I wondered if they had actually been shipped in that fashion. All were nicked up with some not too noticeably and others more so. None were terrible but some bores were also better than others. What you see is my selection. Interestingly, the grips exhibit far more abuse than the metal and were probably a mix n match at some point.
The last is my favorite. All original except again for the much later grips. Just to provide an intro here. I want to share a thread later with the details on this one.
Still, someday I would like just a nice original wartime military 1917.
Thanks for great posts!!!
(Addendum: Please see my thread of 12 October re the last photo - a Post WWII Commercial Model 1917.)

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Mine,not a really great pic,need to take some better ones,ser.# in the 33,000 range.

I paid $265 for this Brazilian sn 209443 back in 1988, S&W Ivory grips, Tyler T grip, and Wonder sight:

What's the wonder site? Never heard of that? I see it in the pic but tell me more.

Regards,
Greyson

This one sat in the safe after I put about fifty rounds through it with the issued skinny grips. My hand and wrist are already messed up - I didn't need more pain!

Now it wears these homely but-oh-so-comfy Pachmayrs, and its gets shot a lot more.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”

I gotta go wash my drooling bib AGAIN!! I can't wait until I can get the funds to "hunker" (for Iggy) and get one of these. Thanks and keep 'em comin'!!

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Probably were. It seems like these guns got very rough treatment while in Brazil and they journey back to the US was worse!

Some served in Italy during WWII with the Brazilian army, and I expect those are the ones that look like they were thrown into a cement mixer filled with salt water!

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You're shy a few manners.

Here's the Wondersight website:
Wondersight « Hollow Point Bullet Mold Service

Exactly what Walter Roper wrote about in his book "Experiments of a Handgunner". His hand got so torn up while shooting his S&W model of 1917 .45 DA revolver that he designed the now famous and sought after Roper stocks.

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James Redfield
LM #497

Here is my 1917 Commercial .45 Colt Ctg. Frankingun. The barrel is 6 1/2" and marked like the .455 with a diamond stamp (replacement part stamp) by the serial number. There isn't enough head space to chamber .45 acp with a moon clips. Serial numbers all match and are where they should be.



and the letter

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Bill Bates

Cool guns AND information!! I wish my LGS had one in any shape so I could handle it. Thanks again.......

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My poor pictures of three digit 1917. Added the ring and now have concave stocks on it.

My lettered 1917 Army (shipping date May, 1918, Springfield Armory) is one of the best condition guns in my collection; age considered. Aside from the small dent in the right hand grip panel which I intend to steam out, the rest of the gun is pristine. Catch the case colors on the trigger too. I have posted several pictures below. I hope you enjoy them. Ed

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Ed45

I know I asked for it, but you guys are killin' me. I am going crazy waiting for the funds to get a 1917. I've been lusting for a Colt Woodsman Match Target (4 1/2") and it is on hold 'til I stable one of these beasts. They are very utilitarian, but elegant also. I actually prefer some use (looks wise)on the gun. Then will come the array of different moon clip styles and a suitable holster for chest carry as well as a period style holster and ammo pouches. I've got some plain cardboard box military 230 ball just waiting for a photo op. Again, much gratitude for sharing your revolvers.

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Go big or stay home

Post war transitional S serial prefix .
The ' Oglesby' gun.

Shot it first time 10 15 11. Wonderful piece.






























Allen Frame

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NRA cert.instructor&R.S.O.